The cost of dental implants (including the crown/tooth on top of the implant) varies in Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, usually between $3500 - $5000 per implant, or $15,000 - $25,000 for a single arch All-on-4® or All-on-Any implant procedure. This total fee should include placement of the dental implant/s, any grafting of bone and soft tissue to facilitate placement, and placement of the final crowns fitted to the implant/s.
The wide variation in cost is due to the large number of brands of componentry, grafting materials and restorations/crowns available. Some patients prefer the most expensive brands and materials and want to know they are getting a premium product and willing to pay for the most expensive component involved in each step.
While a higher fee does not guarantee a better outcome, Dr John Webster will always advise the most cost effective material to achieve your treatment goals as often you do not require the most expensive brand to achieve long term success.
The cost of poor quality dental implant work in the third world and developing countries with the rise of dental and medical tourism is also providing a steady stream of expensive revision work to Dr John Webster. It is unwise to compromise the quality of your treatment and experience potential complications in order to save on upfront costs. Many implant systems are available internationally that do not meet the Therapeutic Good Association (TGA) requirements of the Australian health regulators and simple metal additives in the dental implants can have devastating effects in as short as a few months post treatment.
There are several things you should consider when comparing dental implant costs.
1. Implant Components
Choosing high quality componentry from long term leading dental implants brands will ensure you have access to long term success and low risk of complications. See the next section on Latest Technology in Dental Implants to learn more about the brands Dr John Webster uses to find cost effective solutions. If there are issues with a fractured crown in the future or any other component it is important to use a brand that is likely to still be around in 20-30 years so that spare parts are readily available. All brands available at the Oral Facial & Implant Centre fit the above criteria.
2. Surgeon Specialisation & Experience
Diagnosis, treatment planning and implant surgery is highly technical. Poorly executed surgery can have serious long-term consequences. Just as you would not choose your medical GP to perform face-lift surgery, you should choose a dental practitioner who is either a Specialist or one that has undertaken extensive post graduate training for any extensive and expensive implant treatment.
Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons such as Dr John Webster, are the original implant specialists in Australia and remain the only dental specialists allowed to place dental implants for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA). Contemporary trained surgeons also know the importance of planning each case from the desired end point back to the initial consultation and placing bone graft where needed to facilitate the optimum outcome.
Any dental practitioner can place dental implants and Dr John Webster is involved in teaching general dentists how to place dental implants and restore them for simple cases. For more complex cases and to ensure all potential pitfalls and complications are avoided, the Oral Facial and Implant Centre suggests you involve a Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in your treatment planning and placement of the dental implant to achieve your desired results.
Before embarking on a potentially costly dental implant treatment plan, it pays to seek a few opinions and also ask how many implant surgeries they have performed, how long they have been doing dental implants, what brand of components will be used and look for their credentials.
3. Treatment Complexity
The more complex a treatment, the more likely you will need the assistance of a Specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon to facilitate accurate placement and the more likely you will need the assistance of a Specialist Prosthodontist, and a dental specialist who has completed 3 more years of training in restoring teeth with crowns, bridges and dentures.
Where a tooth has been missing for many years, bone resorption may have taken place and bone or soft tissue grafting may be required before a dental implant can be placed in the ideal locations. Your medical history and medications will also affect your treatment so selecting a specialist on cost alone is not advisable. Each dental implant case is specific to you and requires the careful attention to detail to ensure long-term successful outcomes.
4. Centre Facilities
The Oral Facial & Implant Centre has access to all the latest technology and facilities needed to expedite your care in the safest and most predictable way. See our website section on Latest Technology in Dental Implants to learn more. At our conveniently located practice at St Andrew’s Hospital in Toowoomba you will have everything available to you to make your dental implant journey a successful one.
5. Warranty
While the dental implant success rate is as high as 95-98%, should an implant fail, a warranty is important. The warranty on the implant product enables Dr John Webster to replace your implant free of charge within an agreed time period. Reputable implant manufacturers, like the ones Dr Webster chooses offer this warranty which gives you peace of mind.
The secret to long term success is not just in an accurate placement and a nice looking crown, more-so about how you care for your new implant in the months and years after your surgery. Implant maintenance is the key for its longevity and is often neglected as a focus point from the patient at initial consultation. The Oral Facial & Implant Centre will ensure you and your Dentist are reminded to follow-up with appropriate implant aftercare. Dr John Webster will check there has been no movement of the implant within the bone and that the occlusion, or ‘bite’, is correct so there is no unnecessary loading and wear on the restoration/crown. Just as if you bought a new car you would arrange regular services, look after it, and ensure it lasts a long time, so too do you need to maintain your dental implant with routine dental visits.
For any further questions or information please contact one of our friendly team on 07 4580 4733.